Winemaker's Notes:

#65 of the Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2010
"A burly Rufina, with dried dark fruits, chewy tannins and a dark chocolate and mineral aftertaste. Full and satisfying. Always the fresh acidity in the back palate. A go to Chianti. Drink now...91" WS 10/10

Very nice elements of dark berries and vanilla with a medium body and a rich mouth feel. Tannins provide some structure and good acids keep it from feeling mushy. Less of the thin cherry common with Sangiovese, more of the brambly plum that reminds me of some Zins. We ordered this and a Super Tuscan at a group dinner and went back for 3 more of these!

The attractive, mid-weight 1999 Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Riserva offers black cherry fruit, new saddle leather, and spice box aromas. Well-made, with good acidity as well as aggressive tannin, it should be consumed over the next 5ndash;6 years.

If you need further proof of the quality of the rsquo;97 vintage in Tuscany, look no further than Nipozzano. This is not an esoteric bottle that few will ever drink. Itrsquo;s a well distributed wine that completely blew this critic away in a blind tasting. It grabs your attention and takes you imagination into a silk robe, over chocolate perfumes that hint at ambrosia, through layers upon layer of distinctive terroir, a lasting spice, a moist earthy character thatrsquo;s both hidden and potent. How can a wine cascade across the palate with so much grace, the sparkle of its flavors lasting for minutes? How can a sip bring to mind a sexual fabric rather than fermented grape juice?

This well known Italian winery has produced a lovely red that is 90% Sangiovese, with small amounts of Malvasia Nera, Colorino, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon added to give the wine more depth. It starts out with an enticing violet floral nose, and shows a deep ruby red in color. The wine is full-bodied, with well-focused tannins and a touch of warm spiciness on the finish. Perfect for sipping by the fireplace with an antipasto or tomato basil bruschetta.

The Nipozzano Riserva is a perennial favorite, and we recommend it highly in most vintages. The rsquo;93 combines all the winersquo;s usual charms, including a trademark aroma that smells a little like an antique cigar box, and the wine goes a step further with a complete saturation of flavor. The richness of fruit across the palate shows a concentration and balance that will serve the wine well for those who wish to age it a few years. That balance is achieved with no overt tannin or excess weight, allowing an incipient complexity to come forward and provide plenty of pleasures right now. This is a wine to buy by the case.

If yoursquo;re looking for a reliable Tuscan aristocrat, look no further than Nippozzano. This is consistantly one of the best drinking wines from the region; made at the estate for seven centuries, the style was updated during a major renovation of the winery in 1998. The 2000 Nipozzano is cleaner, more finely packaged than wines from the old cellar, and that only allows the pure flavors of Rufina sangiovese more amplitude and clarity of tone. Its fragrant with rose and black trumpet mushrooms, elegant with light tannins surrounding the ripe cherry fruit. Satisfying now with a wild mushroom risotto, this is balanced for age.

The Frescobaldi family has made wine in Tuscany since 1308. Rufina is the smallest of the sub-areas of Chianti. The region is more mountainous than hilly; the grapes ripen more slowly due to the day-night temperature differential, which can produce rich wines. The Nipozzano has brilliant, purple-edged ruby red color. There are aromas of plum, olives, thyme, rosemary, blueberry, cranberry, dark cherry and red meat. The flavor is rich and round with crisp fruit, hints of cocoa and clove. The tannins are smooth. The finish is long and satisfying. This elegant and delicious wine is a wonderful Chianti. Enjoy with grilled, well-aged steaks, Boeuf Bourguignon, Agnello con olive allrsquo;Abruzzese or aged cheese.

The 2007 Chianti Rufina Riserva shows the open, opulent personality that makes this vintage so alluring. Ripe, silky tannins frame a core of red fruits, flowers and spices, all of which come together with unusual grace. Though medium in body, there is wonderful generosity to the fruit, not to mention fabulous overall balance. Anticipated maturity: 2010ndash;2015.

Tasting Notes:

It appears a deep, purple-edged ruby red, of impressive brilliance. Solid fruit notes of wild blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and dark cherry emerge initially on the nose, gradually yielding to more pungent impressions of sage, rosemary, vanilla, and cinnamon. That spiciness segues onto the palate, and then into a finish that ends with a flourish of balsam, black pepper, and cocoa powder. The
mid-palate shows alcoholic warmth and roundedness, while the tannins and acidity are noticeable, adding to the wine’s overall harmony.

#65 of the Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2010
"A burly Rufina, with dried dark fruits, chewy tannins and a dark chocolate and mineral aftertaste. Full and satisfying. Always the fresh acidity in the back palate. A go to Chianti. Drink now...91" WS 10/10